Waffle iron



Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,141

` w. w. wElR WAFFLE IRON Filed Feb. 21, 1924 's sheets-sheet 1 gru/1112114701',4

Feb. 23 1926.

A W. w. wElR WAFFLE IRON Filed Feb. 2ll 19.24 3 Sheets-Sheet, z

W. W. WEIR WAFFLE IRON Feb. 23 1926.

. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2l

raieaiea renee, iaae.

WILLIAM W. WEIR, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA,v ASSIGNOR' TO MAJESTIC ELECTRIC APPLIANCE COMPANY, INCOREORATED, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A COR- PORA'I'ION 0F CALIFORNIA.-

Warrnn neon.

l `Application @led February 21, 1924. Serial No. 694,232.

improve in general the mode of construction and operation of such waffle irons.

It is another obye-ct of my invention to F prevent undue waste of heat by conduction or radiation;` and instead, to make it possible to conduct substantially all of tlieheat developed by the heating elements, to the' waffle molds. i

It is still another object of my invention `to make it possible to utilize both sides of the grids, whereby waffles may be cooked on one side, and cakes on the other. In this connection my invention contemplates the use of grids which are conveniently arranged for ready reversal in the iron. Since these irons are usually in the form of hinged sections whicli mayY beopened topresent both of the reversible plates or grids for use as hot plates, the upper section when opened is designed to rest in a substantially horizontal position, and to be supported therein by the handle.

lily invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth atilength in the following description, where I shall outline in full that forni of the invention which. li have selected for illustration inthe drawings accompanying and forming part'of the present .specification. Although I `have shown in the diawiiigs'biit one embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be lim:` ted thereto, since the invention as keirpi'essed in the claims may be embodied in other orms'also. y,

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a waiie ,iron embodying my invention;

Fig.2 is a sectional view taken through the center of the iron shown in'Fig. 1*,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken'along plane 3?? of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View, taken along` plane 4 4 of Fig. 3, and showing theshinge construction Fig. 5 .is an elevation of the iron shown in Fig. 1, taken from the right of that tigure, with the cover plates forthe hinge removed;

y Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, illustrating the -construction of the terminals for the heating elements;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the cover members used' in connection/with the hinge construction; and Y Fig. 8 is a sectional view, ltaken along plane 8 8 of Fig. 3, and illustrates the manner in which the heating element is supported. f

The walile iron comprises a lower hollow section 11, which serves as a receptacle for the parts of one modd, and an upper hollow section v12, accommodating the parts for the other mold. In the present instance these sections are shown as circular in form, and having slightly domed contours for enhancing the good appearance of the iron. The lower half 11 has a cylindrical wall 153, which encompasses the lower mold 14 (Fig. 2). This mold substantially entirely covers the open side of the section 11, and is shown form depressions in the finished Waffle. Around "the edge of the plate or mold 14 there is formed a depression` or groove 16,' shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, for catching any excess batter that may be placed in the mold. Furthermore, the plate or mold 14 is so supported in the section 11 that its edge projects slightly above the beaded lip 17 of the shell. In this way, whatever batter finds its way out between the two `mold sections, will pass over this lip 17 and will not run down on the wall 13.

Ono ot the features of my invention is the manner iny lwhich the mold 14 is held in the shell 11, whereby said mold may bereversed in the section 11 .to expose its lower,

smooth surface 18, on which hot cakes or other similar food articles may be cooked.'

as having the usual projections 15 which, f

asf

For this purpose, the mold 14 fits loosely Y enough in the section 11 to permit ready removal. This loose fit also insures against material heatl loss by conduction from the y plate 14 to the section 11. At one point,

the mold y14.is provided with a pin or other projection'19 (Fig. 2) which may be projected through the wall 13. At another peripheral point, substantially opposite the pin 19, a headed pin or screw 2O is provided, and projects outwardlywith respect to the mold 14, and is received in the appropriately formed slot 21 in the'lip 17 of the section 11. In order to prevent accidental or ,un intentional removal of the watlle grid 14, a thumb button 22 is provided, slidably mounted on the projection 2O and urged as by spring toward the lip 17. In order to provide space for this spring between the head of projection 20 and the button 22, this button is countcrbored as illustrated in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the inner portion of the button isy out away to conform to the beaded lip 17. The engagement of this portion of the spring-pressed button with the lower portion of the lip causes this lip to act as a catch and prevents effectively any accidental removal of the grid plate 14; yet

` serpentine configuration.

by pulling-outwardly on the button 22, it may be readily freed, and the plate'may be easily `lifted by the. button 22, at least far enough toA permit withdrawal of pin 19 from the opposite side. vThe reverse process of insertion is readily apparent from the foregoing. p

'Therevcrsibility of plate 14 makes it neccssary to provide a stationary heating device that operates substantially equally as well for either position of the plate 14. In supported.

the present instance, I secure this result by providing a large area of contact between the bottom side of plate 14 and a flat, disclike heating element 24. This surface con' tact is produced by' gravity; the plate 14 dropping as far as it is permitted, onto the top of the element.

I preferably construct the disc-like metallic member making up thecasing for the element 24, from metal of .high conductivity, such as (aluminum. A shallow depression 25 is formed in one side of the element, which serves to accommodate the fiat convulated coil of resistance wire 26. This coil serves as the heating means when rproperly connected to a source of electricity. It is insulated by the aid of a pair of insulation discs 28, preferably of mica. The coil is preferably wound in the manner shown,`

back and forth to produce a zig-zag 'or The wire may usually be of such size that it is pliant, and there is no difculty inadjustingthe shape of the coil after winding to any desired fiat curveMas for instance the circle shown4 in Fig. 3. The entire element 24 is fastened to a supporting plate 29, as by the.aid of the screws 30. This supporting plate has a slightly raised edge 3 1, forming a guide for the element 24. This support is fastened at this edge 31 in a few places asI by the screws 34, to the clips 32 (Fig. 8) which are held as by welding to the inner surface of wall 13. As shown clearly in Fig. 3, the support 29 is of slightly smaller diameter than the inner diameter of section 11, so that there is no opportunity for material direct conduction of heat from the support to this section. However, in order to facilitate centering of the support 29, it is provided with a few projections 33, arranged to contact with the inner surface of the wall 13.

The support 29 also serves to carry terminal posts 35 which are insulatingly held in apertures located in small supplementary depressions. From these posts, leads 3G extend through insulating bushings 37 (Fig. 3) in support 29, and connect to the ends of the coil 26. The bushings 37 are located in depression in support `29, similar to those i associated with the terminal postsj35.

The mode of leading in the connections from an external point involves' the use of a pair of posts 38 (Fig. 6) which are adapted to be plugged into a cooperating detachable plug of the usual character. In order to make these posts accessible, the section 11 is cut away as indicated at 39, Fig. G; A tubular guide for the plug is formed of an internally extending hood 40, and an external tube-like member 41 registering with and forming a continuation of the inner hood 40. This hood has an end wall 42 upon which the'posts 38 are insulatingly The hood and member 41 may be fastened to the shell section 11 by the aid of appropriately formed flanges 43 and 44, and of fastening devices passing through these flanges and the wall of section 11. There is a likelihood that some heat will bev developed by the current iiowing through the contacts between posts 38 and the cooperating plug, especially if there be appreciable contact resistance. Thisheat may in fact bc so great as to cause the metal of guide member 41 to become uncomfortably hot. In order to reduce this heating as much as possible, I provide one or more apertures 45 in the guide member 41, so as to permit a better -air circulation in and through this guide The upper shell section 12 houses devices quite similar to those described in con'- nection with the lower section 11. VThere is a support 29 for a heating element24, held inside "the shell section in asimilar manner to that of the lower support 29. The upper waiiie mold plate 4G is substantially identical with the lower plate 14, and is reversibly fastened to the shell section 12, by the aid of a-pin 47, a projection 4S engaging in a slot in the lip of the section.

Both sections 11 and 12 have hinge leaves or lugs 49 and 50, forming the legs of substantially U-shaped members 52 and 53,'

ll?) I lia 1,574,143. v lt'- which are fastened externally respectively to the lower and upper sections. The fastening may be in the form of rivets 51 (Fig. 4) lor by welding between the bottom of the U and the section walls. rllhe cooperation between the lugs is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, where it is seen that that pair of lugs and 49 which are inside ofthc others are provided with slots 54; thehingc pins pass through these slots. Tlns slot serves to allow play between the two section 11 and 12. |lhis play is needed to ensure that the top mold platef46 will .rest evenly over the lower' plate 14 with'the iron closed. The parts are purposely so proportioned that the entire upper section 12 and its associated parts rest by gravity on the lower section. In this way there is a certainty that intimate contact between the heating elements 24 and the mold sections 14 and 46 is maintained. rllhe proportioning of the parts for this eect involves making the slots 54 in thelhinge lugs 49 and. 50 long enough, and also the slots in the lips 17, which' slot'saccommodate the projections 2O and 48.

The connections between the upper heating coil 26 and the terminal posts 38, whereby said coil is placed in circuit, are eected by the aid of insulated leads, indicated diagranimatically by the numeral 56 in Figs. 2, Band 4. These leads pass through an aperture 57 (Fig. 4) formed through the member 53.

wall of upper section 12 and the U-shaped From there the leads enter the lower section 11 through a similar aperture 58 and are there appropriately connected in circuit. Enough extra length `is provided for these leads to permit the maximum relative movement between the hinged sections.

ln order that the portion of leads 56 which extend outside of the shell sections 11 and 12 and between apertures 57 and 58,

be concealed, l preferably provide cover members such as 59 and 60 (shown in greatler detail in Fig. 7 'Y These members cover the space formed between the pairs of hinge lugs 49 and 50, andl are attached respectively to the upper hinge lugs 50 and the lower lugs 49. The attachment in this instance consists of flaps or corners 6l, one on each side of the member 59 or 60, and extending in a direction substantially vparallel to that of the lugs 49, 50. These two corners are spaced just far enough apart on the body or cover portion of the member 59 as to be capable ot' being sprung between these hinge lugs. For producing the desired flexibility or resiliency of these flaps, the member 59 is made from sheet metal of the proper characteristics. l'n order to keep the member 59v still more securely in place, l provide a small projection 62 on each flap 6l, as by stamping, which is adapted to engage in a recess or depression 63 (Figi 4)A Ashell section with which it is associated,

and carries a tubular extension 64. This extension is' approximately one-half as long as the distance between the ears lor laps6l, and is arranged to register with the circular-shaped extremities of the hinge lugs, so as to be substantially coaxial with the hinge pins 55. These tubular extensions have an open portion, making them not quite coinplete cylinders, whereby the wires 56 may be readily slipped through this open portion and carried through the extensions. The relative movement of the two hinged sections 11 and 12 does not, however, serve to expose this interruption or break in the tubes, since this break is turned always toward the inside of the iron. vFurthermore, the two extensions 64 are reciprocallyv spaced on the upper and lower sections, whereby they aline to form a substantially continuous, tubular conduit between the hinge lugs. rllhis feature is best disclosed in F ig'. 3. It is also to be noted that the pins '19 and 47 which serve as one point of support for the mold plates 14 and 46, extend to that portion of the shell sections whichl is covered by the members 59; in this way the apertures for accommodating these pins are effectively concealed.

Another feature of my invention resides in the nature of the support for the entire iroi In this support, the endeavor is made to prevent heat loss by conduction to thc greatest extent, yet with the aid of relatively simple and inexpensive parts. For this purpose, the base 65 has a double-walled, sheet metal construction. The lower portion 67 has a plurality of stamped-out projections 66 on which the device rests, while the upper portion 68 is spaced therefrom and has a saucer-like form to catch whatever drip of batter may occur between the molds. At the center of this member68, there is an open column-like support 69, formed preferablyv l integrally with the member 68, and on which the lower section 1l is supported.- For this purpose a flat plate 70 is placed on top of the support 69, resting on a curved portion 71 thereof, so as to have a ver).v narrow band of contact therewith. also` carries a curved, turned up edge-72 on .which the bottom of sect-ion` 11 're-sts. It is however 'spaced from the plate 70, so that only a very narrow band of 'Contact is again established. In this way, only a negligible amount of heat can be conducted from the section 11 through these areas of contact. A central bolt 73 serves to tasten the parts 11. 70 and 67together. In order to prevent relative turning of the section 11v and plate 70, there is another mechanical connection This plate in turn/ made from a good heat insulator,.and is dal I button 82 vis supported at its e'd-ge.

tom of the button however, 1s spaced from spaced at the proper height from the section 12 by the aid of a U-shaped strap 7 8, the bottom of which is located within the, shell 12. The legs 79 ot this strap pass through'appropriate slots rin the section 12, and at their tree extremities are fastened as by screws 80 to the ends of the handle 76. Appropriate fastening devices, such as rivets 81 serve to hold the member 78 to the sec-v tion 12.

In order to provide a supplementaryv means for manually moving the upper section 12 about its hinges, and also to improve the appearance of the device, an insulation knob or button 82 at the very peak of sec tion 12 is provided. Since many kinds ot insulation material have a decided odor when suiiiciently heated, I aimto support this button in such a way as toprevent any material conduct/ion of heat thereto from the section 11. For this purpose, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, I provide a seat 83 of sheet metal, having a turned-down edge 84 which rests on top of the section 12 and contacts only on a narrow band therewith. The upperpart of this seat has a depression with sloping sides85. On these sides the The botthe bottom of the depression in the seat 84, so that there is a narrow band of contact between the butto-n 82 and its seat. 'KA bolt 86'passes through the wall of sectionl 12 and the seat 84 for fastening the button securely in place. This bolt is preferably fixed in .the -button before assembling. `Appropriate supplementary mechanical connections are also provided to prevent rotation of the.

seat 84 and of, button 82. These connections consist of projection 87 on seat 84 engaging a slot 88 in section 12, and a similar projection 89 on the other side oit' the seat 84, engaging a slt 90 in the button 82.

The mode of operation of the waffle non either to cook waiies or hot cakes is apparent from the foregoing description. T he iron may either be opened out completely and the grids reversed to form a pair of heated fiat plates which maybe used 1n an obvious fashion." In this condition the handle T 6 restson the table or other support on which the iron is placed. The'support affordedlby the handle is rigid enough for all purposes, since it'is far from the pivot point and presents two points of contact at its ends 77 which aredisposed a considerable distance apart.

I claim:

1. In an electric cooking utensil, a receptacle, and a support for said receptacle, comprising a hollow double-walled 'metallic base.

2. In an electric cooking utensil, a receptacle, and a support for said receptacle, comprising a hollow double-walled metallic base, said base having an area of contact with the receptacle of small. amount, whereby conduction of heat to the base is substantially prevented.

3. In anelectric cooking utensil, a receptacle, and a support for said receptaclef -comprising a hollow double-walled metallic base, said base having a plurality of pro jections serving as feetstamped out on its bottom side.

4. In an electric cooking utensil, a receptacle, and a support for said receptacle, comprising a hollow double-walled metallic base, the upper wall of said base having a for said receptacle, the upper wall of said base having a projection serving as a sup- 'port for said receptacle, and a plate on said projection having a thin band of contact with the projection, said blate having a curved portion arranged to contact with the bottom of the receptacle` whereby only a thin band of contact is provided between the plate and the receptacle. y

'6. In an electrically heated utensil, a hollow shell section, a flat heating element fastened to the inside of the section, and a plate to which heat is to be imparted resting gravitally and loosely against said element.

7. In an electrically heated utensil, a hollow shell section,l a flat heating element fastened to the inside of the section, a plateto which heat is lto be imparted resting gravi tally against said clement, and means wheref by said plate maybe readily reversed to present either side for use, comprising a pin and aperture connection between the plate and the section, and a slot and pin connection at another point of the plate, said slot and pinv connection-having vertical -play to permit vertical movement' of the plate to contact with the heating element.

8. In an electrically heatedv utensil, an upper and a lower shell section, a hinge connection between the sections. a heating element fastened into eachof the sections, and

plates adapted to contact gravitally and loosely with said heating elements andarranged, when the sections are closed, to be next to each other, the hinge connection being Such as to permit the upper section to rest gravitally and loosely on the lower and to permit the plates and the heating elements to form a series of gravitally but loosely contacting parts.

9. In an electrically heated cooking utensil, an open shell section, a reversible plate supported in said section, said plate having both sides capable ot' use for cooking, and a detachable connection between the plate and the section, comprising a projection extending from the plate and arranged to be accommodated in a slot inl the lip of the section, and a button slidably arranged on said projection and resiliently urged toward the outer surface of the section.

10. In a'n electrically heated cooking utensil, an open shell section," a reversible plate supported in said section, said plate having 30 projection and resiliently both sides capable of use for cooking, and a detachable connection between the plate and the section, comprising a projection eXtend ing from the plate and arranged to be ac' commodated in a slot in the lip o'l the section, and a button slidably arranged on said urged toward the outer surface of the section, said lip projecting to forma catch engaging the button.

11. In an electrical cooking utensil, an upper and a lower section hingedly connected together-,and means for supporting the upper section in open horizontal position, comprising a handle rigidly attached to the other section and near the edge thereof remote from the hinge connection.

12. In an electrical cooking utensil, a pair of sections, hinge lugson each section whereby they may be hingedly connected together, there being twol for each section, spaced some distance apart, and cover plates between the lugs, said plates having ends rictionally engaging the lugs and sprung therebetween.

13. In an electrical cooking utensil, a pair of sections, hinge lugs on each section whereby they may be hingedly connected together, there being two for each section, spaced some distance apart, and cover plates between the lugs of each section, said plates being ot resilient material and having flaps at their ends adapted to engage frictionally with the lugs between which the cover plates are sprung.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM W. were. 

